Centralised healthcare puts patients at risk

PROFESSOR Muiris Fitzgerald’s contention that the Hanly proposals, if implemented, would lead to greater efficiencies and effectiveness in the delivery of healthcare defies logic.

The professor is giving a detached academic view which does not tally with that of people in the front line of healthcare delivery. Prof Fitzgerald fails to take cognisance of important geographical considerations which Hanly, too, has completely missed.

Hanly proposes that the current network of 38 general acute hospitals be reduced to just 12 providing round-the- clock services.